Arrangement of windows for the discharge and the admission of air from and to vehicle, particularly powerdriven vehicles



April 30, 1957 K w L 2,790,675

ARRANGEMENT OF WINDOWS FbR THE DISCHARGE AND THE ADMISSION OF AIR FROM AND TO VEHICLES, PARTICULARLY POWER-DRIVEN VEHICLES Filed April l;O, 1 956 2 Sheets-Sheet l j INVENTOR KARL W/L PERT ATTORNEY Apnl 30, 1957 K. WILFERT 2,790,675

' ARRANGEMENT 0F WINDOWS FOR THE DISCHARGE AND THE ADMISSION OF AIR FROM AND TO VEHICLES, PARTICULARLY POWER-DRIVEN VEHICLES Filed April 10, 1956 ZSMets-Sheet. 2

INVENTOR KA R1. W/L FER? ATTORNEY 3 dicated by the arrow in Figure 2. The air flowing into the interior of the vehicle thereby produces a superpressure therein depending on the rate of travel of the vehicle. For discharging the inside air the lateral windows 11 and 12 of the vehicle adapted to be lowered are used. In addition to such lateral windows 11 and 12 an additional smaller window 13 may be provided rearwardly of window 12 which additional window 13 may be so mounted that it cannot be opened. The windows 11 and 12 may be provided in the doors and, for instance, may be constructed and designed as slidable windows adapted to be lowered. A covering window panes 14 and 15 is coordinated with each of the lateral windows 11 and 12 respectively. Each of such panes 14 and 15 is mounted in essentially frictionless bearings of any well known construction (not shown) to be inwardly pivotal about a vertical axis 16 and 17 respectively, located in the proximity of the rear edges of the slidable windows 11 and 12 and also in the proximity of the rear edges of the window panes 14 and 15. When the slidable windows are opened, for instance lowered upon rotation of a crank 21 actuating a conventional window;

dow pane 15 is angularly adjusted inwardly. The draft 1 of air entering through the opening 12 of the window will he, therefore, diverted forwardly near the. covering window pane, as indicated by the arrow.

In Figure 4 the opposite arrangement is provided, the slidable front window 11 being opened and the covering window pane 14 having been adjusted inwardly, whereas the rear window 12 is shown as being closed. Therefore, the wind produced by the travel of the vehicle is diverted inwardly in a similar manner by the covering pane 14, as indicated by the arrow.

Figure shows the ventilation with both the windows 11 and 12 opened.

If desired, the covering window panes 14 and 15 may be cooperatively connected with the crank-operated mechanisms for moving the associated slidable window panes 11 and 12, or may be directly actuated by means connected with the slidable window panes 11 and '12 so as to be automatically swung inwardly when the slidable windows 11 and Y12 are lowered and as to be swung to normal position shown in Figures 6 and 7 when the slidable windows are raised. In order to achieve the automatic opening and closing of the window panes 14 and 15 simultaneously with the lowering and raising of the side windows 11 and 12, a mechanical linkage schematically illustrated in Figure 1 and designated. by reference numerals 34, 35, 36 may be provided which operatively connects the hand crank 21 with the pivotal window panes for purposes of rotating the window panes 14 upon rotation of hand crank 21. In order to enable the automatic adjustment to be described more fully hereinafter by referring to Figure 9. of the window panes 14 and 15 depending on the difference in pressure between the outside and inside of the vehicle, the crank operated mechanism 21, 25 and 34 may be of any suitable construction which permits limited free movement of the pivotal window panes 14 and 15 relative to the slidable window panes 11 and 12, respectively. For example, the common actuating mechanism 21, 25 and 34 may be similar to that illustrated in U, S. Patent 2,190,976 to. G. M.

window may be engaged individually. However, the common actuating mechanism necessary for proper operation of the present invention does not require two clutches as illustrated in this patent but only one for purposes of enabling relative free movement of the pivotal window pane with respect to the common actuating mechanism by providing ,such a clutch in a suitable place of the linkage connecting the common actuating mechanism with the pivotal window pane. A particularly suitable arrangement for such connection is illustrated in Figures 10 to 14 to be described more fully hereinafter.

Also, means may be provided, for instance, for adjusting the covering window panes by the use of springs or the like into the rocked or swung-out position when the slidable window is cranked downwardly, as will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to Figures 12 to 14. As a rule, an angle of adjustment of 20 to 30 degrees from the normal position of the rockable or pivotal window panes 14 and 15 when parallel to the slidable window panes 11 and 12 will sutfice to ensure freedom from draft.

Figures 6 to 8 illustrate the function of the admission of air to and the discharge of air from the interior space of the vehicle through the lateral windows when air under pressure is used, the pressure of the air being preferably produced by means damming-up the air in front of the vehicle in the customary manner, for example, by means of lid 9. The dammed-up air may enter for instance through a fresh air duct 9 (Figure 2) below the windshield.

In Figure 6 it has been assumed again that the rear window 12 is opened. In Figure 7 it has been assumed that the front window 11 is opened, and in Figure 8 it has been assumed that both windows are opened. Experience has shown that when air is admitted under pressure into the interior of the vehicle no draft will be produced in the interior of the vehicle, not even if the covering panes or pivotal window panes 14 or 15 remain in normal straight position, i. e., in positions parallel to the slidable window panes and, therefore, they need not be swung inwardly although, if desired, they may be angularly adjusted.

The pivotal window panes 14 and 15 are each provided with suitable detent means 19 of well-known construction associated with their pivots 18, such detent means being schematically illustrated in Figure 1 only in connection with the pivot 18 of window pane 15, it being understood that similar detent means may be provided with the pivots of all the other pivotal window panes. Figure 15, to be described more fully hereinafter, shows one embodiment of such detent means suitable for purposes of the present invention.

When such detent means are released they permit a corresponding pivotal window pane 14 or 15 to adjust itself automatically in the essentially frictionless hearings to a position in which the super-pressure B (Fig. 9) existing in the interior of the vehicle will balance the pressure of the air dammed up on the outside of the window pane at A, whereas a uniform flow of air discharged from the interior of the vehicle under the effect of the interior super-pressure passes through the space C where during the travel no exterior super-pressure exists as a rule. Each of the pivotal window panes 14 and 15 Campbell entitled Panel Regulating Apparatus in which the sliding and swinging panels may be individually or collectively adjusted by the common hand crank, suitable clutches being provided in the patent so that each may be adjusted, of course, to any other effective position by means of its detent means 19 for the purpose of controlling the discharge of air from the window opening and for the purpose of causing cooled outside air, if desired, to enter through the window openings during the hot season.

The pivotal axis 17 of the window pane 15 may be slightly spaced from the rear window edge being positioned in front thereof. The distance, however, must not be so large that the rear edge of the window pane if rocked or pivoted might get into the path of the window pane 12 when the same is lowered. The same is also true of pivotal axis 16 of window pane 14 and .pivotal window pane 11-. 4 V

The gapexisting between the 'frames26 of the lateral windows and the rea'r'edgeof the pivotal window pane 15 is sealed by means ofa sealing strip'27 'of soft'rubber mounted on such rear edge, assh'own in Figure 9.

As-may be'seen in Figure/s "and 11 which schematically illustrate a. suitable window doWeringmiechanisirt, a lateral window 11, which maybe lowered, is positioned within the vehicle doorszprovitletl with a window opening-53'. Th e lateralwindow 1'1 may-belowered and raised by means of the shorthand crank-'21, For that purpose, the window-'1-1 rests on two 'rollers 22 and '22 of a guide arrangeme'nt 28i' which is connected with a gear segment 24'-'by means of a lever 25 which is pivotally mounted within the vehicle door "19 on a shaft 24'. V A 1 gear wheel 28', which is mounted'onthe shaft 29 of the hand crank 21 is inengagemenfi'with the teeth of the gear segment 24 whereby upon rotation of the hand crank 21 in the directiorf'of' the arrow 30 (Figure 11) the lateral window 11 is lowered in the direction of the arrow 31 (Figure 10). At the same time, a worm gear 32, which is rigidly mounted on the shaft 29 and rotates in unison therewith, rotates the pivotal window pane 14 in the direction of the arrow 37 (Figure 11) over worm Wheel 33 mounted on shaft 34 and bevel gear drive 35 and shaft 36 so that upon lowering of the lateral window 11, the window pane 14 is pivoted in the direction of the arrow 37 of Figure 11. The pivotal Window pane 14 is supported on top thereof in a bearing formed by the detent means 19 and at the bottom thereof in a bearing of which only bearing housing 39 is shown. The top and bottom bearings, however, are such as to offer essentially frictionless bearings for purposes of enabling the automatic adjustment of the pivotal window 14, as will be described more fully hereinafter.

As may be seen more clearly from Figures 12 to 14, the frame 38 of the pivotal Window pane 14 is provided with a bearing housing 39 into which the enlarged pin 40 of the shaft 36 extends, the shaft 36 being driven by the bevel gear drive 35 as explained hereinabove. The pin 39 secured to housing 39 extends into an appropriate bore in pin 40 to provide an essentially frictionless lower bearing for the pivotal window pane 14. The housing 39 is further provided with inwardly directed entrainment ribs 41 and 42 while the pin 40 is provided with outwardly extending entrainment ribs 43 and 44, the ribs 41 and 42 and ribs 43 and 44 of each pair being arranged diametrically opposite one another respectively. Springs 45, 46, 47 and 48 are disposed intermediate ribs 44 and 41, 41 and 43, 43 and 42, and 42 and 44, respectively, in such a manner that a rotation of the shaft 36 and therewith of the pin 4% is transmitted over the entrainment ribs 43 and 44 and the springs 45 and 47 or 46 and 48 after suflicient, predetermined spring deflection to the entrainment ribs 41 and 42 of the bearing housing 39 and therewith to the window pane 14.

The pivotal window pane 14 is supported at the top thereof by an adjustable detent means 19. The adjustable detent means, designated generally by 19, includes an axially slotted type bearing member 49 secured in any suitable manner to the upper end of the pivotal window pane 14 and a pin 50 rigidly secured in the vehicle door. An adjusting screw 51 is provided to adjust the friction between bearing member 49 and pin 50. When the adjustm-ent screw 51 is operated to decrease to diameter of the bore in bearing member 49, the friction increases, while Vice versa increase in the bore diameter decreases the friction so that an essentially frictionless hearing may be obtained by proper adjustment of screw 51.

Upon opening of the side Window 11 by means of hand crank 21, the pivotal window pane 14 is rocked or pivoted into the position shown in Figure 9 by the action of springs 45 and 47 or 46 and 4a which upon predetermined compression will transmit a suflicient force to ribs 41 and '42 to "effectmovementiof 'the'window pane 14; "If the "adjustment 'screWSf is adjusted so- 'as "to provide a substantially frictionlessibearing Eon top thereof 'by :increa'si'n gthe' diameter of the'bore in"beai'ing'rnember 49 to"provide"ade t1uate play, the pivotal window pane '14 automatically :adju sts' itself to assume a position which precludes any draft, thepa'rticular position being determined'by' the pressure differentiafconditions of the 'air current either from "the inside "of the vehicle toward the outside or from the outside "of-the vehicle toward the inside. Such automatic adjustment is made'possible by the essentially frictionlessbearing49, 50 provided at' the top 'and by theessentially frictionless bearing 39', 40 at the-"bottom'of the window pane 14. However, if it is deisirabl'etosecurethe window-pane 14 in a fixed position, then this i made' readilyfeasibleby tightening the adjusting screw 51. j

Since anautomatic-adjustment of 'the 'pivotal window pan'e l i over 'a-relatively narrow angle is ordinarily sufficient the springs 45, 46, 47 and 48 may be so chosen as to offer a practically negligible counter force when the pivotal window member 14 adjusts itself over such an angle. For example, springs with progressive spring characteristics may be used which offer practically no spring force over a predetermined initial spring deflection. However, these springs at the same time prevent rattling of the pivotal windows when they tend to rotate or pivot over larger angles as may be the case during the occurrence of severe road shocks.

The admission of air to and the discharge of air from the interior of the vehicle by the means provided in accordance with the present invention are extremely effective without producing draft when the windows on one side of the vehicle only are opened. Noises produced by the wind have been practically eliminated.

While I have described my invention with reference to a. number of specific embodiments, I wish it to be clearly understood that my invention is not limited to the details of such embodiments, but is capable of numerous modifications within the scope of the appended claims.

For example, any suitable flexible coupling may be used for the one shown in Figures 12 to 14, which enables essentially unrestrained movement of the pivotal window pane over the relatively small angle over which automatic adjustment takes place. Furthermore, any suitable uncoupling mean may also be substituted for the flexible coupling whereby the mechanical connection is either positively established or disconnected.

I claim:

1. In a vehicle, the arrangement of side windows for the discharge and the admission of air comprising a vertically slidable side window member, a pivotal window member, essentially frictionless means for supporting said pivotal window member about a substantially vertical axis on the inside of said slidable window member to provide inwardly directed pivotal movement of the forwardly directed wing of said pivotal window member, and means located in the front end of the vehicle for admitting air under pressure into the vehicle interior, whereby said frictionless means permits said pivotal window member to adjust itself automatically to the proper position under the combined effect of the internal air pressure within the vehicle and the external dynamic pressure of the air.

2. The combination according to claim 1 further compring means for pivotally moving said pivotal window member during opening of said slidable side window member.

3. The combination according to claim 1, wherein said essentially frictionless means is located on the inside of said slidable window member near its rear edge thereof so that said slidable window member is partly covered on the inside thereof by said pivotal window member.

4. In a vehicle the combination according to claim 1, wherein said side windows are located one behind the other in the direction of travel, and wherein each side window consists'of a slidable side window member and one pivotal window member.

5. In a vehicle the combination according to claim 2, wherein said means for pivotally moving said pivotal window member during opening of said slidable side window member includes means enabling essentially unimpaired movement of said pivotal window member to enable automatic adjustment thereof in said essentially frictionless bearing means.

6. In a vehicle the combination according to claim 2, wherein said means for pivotally moving said pivotal window member includes means for enabling essentially unimpaired pivotal movement of said pivotal window memher over at least a predetermined angle to enable automatic adjustment thereof in said essentially frictionless bearing means.

7. In a vehicle the combination according to claim 6 wherein said means for enabling essentially unimpaired pivotal movement of said pivotal window member includes means for preventing rattling of said pivotal Window member during occurrence of large shocks causing said pivotal window member to tend to adjust itself over a larger angle than said first-mentioned angle.

8. In a vehicle the combination according to claim 2, wherein said means for pivotally moving said pivotal window member during opening of said slidable window member includes flexible coupling means, said flexible couping means including a plurality of entrainment members extending radially with respect to the pivot axis of said pivotal window member, and spring means of predetermined spring characteristics interposed between said entrainment members, said spring means olfering relatively little counter-force during the automatic adjustment of said pivotal window member in said essentially frictionless bearing means of a predetermined angle.

No references cited. 

